<p>I currently attend Riverside Community College. I'll be applying as a junior this upcoming fall. Several things happened this semester that required me to drop the entire semester, making me fall short 15 units of my 60 units. Those 15 units all consisted of general education online classes.</p>
<p>Due to circumstances at home, I'll be moving out to Santa Monica this summer and staying out there until I enroll in university. I chose Santa Monica because I can afford it, it's close to my siblings, the public transportation is better than that of the Inland Empire, and the air quality and weather doesn't give me ridiculous breathing problems like the ones I get during summer in the Inland Empire.</p>
<p>I would really rather not attend Santa Monica College because it has only one campus and nearly 40,000 students. I have a feeling the online classes I need will fill up quickly. I'm not sure how Santa Monica College's priority registration works, but if it's based on the amount of units completed at the college, like it is at RCC, I'll be screwed to get the classes I need in time to transfer. I'd have to build up my standing by taking classes I don't need. I would like to transfer with the least amount of units possible and that's 60 units. </p>
<p>I'd like to take my online classes this upcoming fall at RCC because I have seniority and it would be a piece of cake to enroll in the online classes I need.</p>
<p>So I guess to sum it up.</p>
<p>Would it look bad taking online classes at a community college 75 miles away from where you currently live just to take advantage of the priority registration?</p>
<p>On your transcript will it show up as an online class? At my CC there was no difference. When Berkeley found out I was going to take an online class they emailed telling me I couldn’t take. (I did anyway and they never said anything because there is no distinction on the transcript)</p>
<p>I’ve done it a couple times, and got into UCLA and Berkeley last year. Just make sure the class is 100% online, as some require tests being taken in person, or have a few meetings.</p>
<p>I go to Santa Monica College! Registering for classes isn’t based on the amount of units completed, though there is priority registration for TAP/Scholars students. It’s based on your last name - they go in alphabetical order and give you a specific time/date you can start your registration for classes. And plus, SMC does get crowded but I don’t think it’s that bad (parking is HORRIBLE though but public transportation does do justice, I guess). The campus is really nice and fairly big so it’s really not as crowded or small as it may seem. And plus, it’s not like all 40,000 students take their classes in the morning, you know? If you went to a pretty big high school, it’s almost like the same thing.</p>
<p>But if you do end up taking online classes, I agree with Cheba. Make sure it’s completely online.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies guys! They were very helpful. I really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Oh and to clarify…it will not show up as an online class on my transcript. </p>
<p>and redranger thanks so much for telling me how registration goes. I guess I’m screwed considering my last name starts with a V. That’s ridiculous!</p>
<p>But I was wondering guys</p>
<p>Won’t it look suspicious that I’m working and living in Santa Monica, yet taking 5 classes in Riverside? Even if the classes don’t show up as online on my transcript, it still looks suspicious.</p>
<p>I have not heard that registration at SMC is based on last name. I attended there for a year and I don’t think that is how it works. If you are in EOPS, they will give you priority registration, so try to get in on that.</p>
<p>Also: They have several satellite campuses and it is usually easier to get in on classes at those campuses, since people don’t want to take there. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the campuses and the buses that go to each one if you plan to take courses at the satellite campuses. Public transportation in and around Santa Monica is, indeed, much, much better than it is in the Inland Empire.</p>
<p>SMC is a good school and they have an amazing array of courses. There are usually a lot of interesting courses left by the time your registration period rolls around. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeap, it’s based on last name but there are programs that give you priority, like Honors and I guess EOPS is another one, too. Even for Honors, my roommate is given a date/time to register ahead of me because her last name comes first on the alphabet.</p>
<p>And sonrisamoon, I don’t think it will look suspicious? Do they really look at your exact address? Well, I don’t know. You can write about it in a statement or that little box for “additional information they might want to know” or whatever. (:</p>
<p>I’ve taken classes at four different community colleges, both in-person and online. I can’t see why the geographic locations of these colleges would matter in the admissions process.</p>